Pipe-tongs support.



T. B. HOFFER.

PIPE TONGS SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JULYH, 1914.

1,148,679 Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH CO.,WASHINK1TON, D. c.

TEMPLE B. HOFFER, OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.

PIPE-TONGS SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed July 11, 1914. Serial No. 850,314.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TEMPLE B. HorrER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita Falls, in the county of Wichita and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe- Tongs Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in pipe tongs supports, and its object is to provide a pipe tongs support that will permit a pipe tongs to be so balanced that it will tend to maintain itself in a horizontal position, this being the position in which its use is required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, that will be strong, durable, simple and efiicient and comparatively easy to construct.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention hasrelation to certain novel features of the construction and use, an example of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

A perspective view of my supporting device engaging and maintaining a pipe tongs in its working position is shown in the draw ing, and reference characters are applied to the various parts of the invention.

The numeral 1 denotes an elongated tongs handle which has pivoted upon one of its extremities a member 2 having a serrated pipe-engaging face. Adjacent to the same end of the handle 1, there is pivotally engaged with said handle a pipe-engaging hook 3, its pivot pin 4 being parallel to the pivot pin 5 of the member 2, both of said pivot pins being vertical when the tongs is supported in its working position. An elongated vertical eye-screw 6 has its threaded lower end engaging in the handle 1, and the eye of said screw receives the end of a horizontally projecting rod 7, formed integrally with a vertical rod 8, screw-threaded at its lower end in the hook 3. Upon the rod 7 a set collar 9 is mounted and like any set collar it may be disposed in a rigid relation with the rod 7 in various positions thereupon. .A hook 11 projects rigidly upward from the collar 9 and is engaged by the lower end of. a rope 12 hung from any suitable support (usually some portion of the derrick used in well drilling). When the pipe tongs is supported in this manner and the collar 9 is properly disposed upon the rod 7, the pipe tongs will be so balanced that it will tend to maintain the horizontal position in which it is to be used. My invention is particularly desirable for use in conjunction with ordinary well drilling outfits.

The invention is presented as including all such modifications and changes as properly come within the scope of the following claims:

That I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pipe tongs, of a pair of spaced vertical members extending rigidly upward from the tongs and arranged in a substantially equidistant relation to the center of gravity of the tongs, a horizontal member establishing connection between the upper ends of the vertical members, and a flexible vertically extending member attached to the horizontal member to support the tongs and adjustable between the ends of the horizontal member.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pipe tongs comprising handle and hook members, of an eyebolt rigidly upstanding from the handle thereof, a vertical member rigidly upstanding from the hook of the tongs, a horizontal member integral at one end with said vertical member and having its other end inserted in the eye of the eye-bolt, a set collar adjustable upon the horizontal member, and a flexible vertical member attached to the set collar, supporting the tongs.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a horizontally disposed pipe tongs, of a horizontal member spaced above the tongs, said member connected to the tongs and supporting the same, a set collar adjustable upon the horizontal member, and a flexible vertical member at tached at its lower end to the set collar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

TEMPLE B. I-IOFFER.

Witnesses:

JOHN BONNER,

O. M. PIERCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. 0; 

